Aug. 16, 2022
Three regional agencies receive second round of funding
In the first grants from the Let’s Get to Work Fund for the 2022–23 grantmaking cycle, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks is granting $25,000 to three agencies:
- Coalition of Charities: $10,000 to assist individuals in Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties with a focus on those who are aging out of foster care, homeless, domestic abuse victims, in households under the poverty level, HiSet attendees and graduates, or Project Rise participants.
- Missouri Ozarks Community Action: $5,000 to assist individuals in Pulaski, Camden, Miller, Maries, Phelps, Gasconade, Laclede and Crawford counties with a focus on those with low income; and
- Texas County Food Pantry: $10,000 to assist Texas County residents that are at or below 50% of the median income in the county.
All three agencies have previously received grants from the Let’s Get to Work Fund. Since opening the fund in late 2021, the CFO has granted $620,000 from the Let’s Get to Work Fund to reduce transportation-related barriers to employment thanks to gifts from David and Stacey O’Reilly, the O’Reilly Charity Golf Classic Fund, Bass Pro Shops, the Jeannette L. Musgrave Foundation, an anonymous donor and other generous donors, as well as $250,000 from the CFO’s reserves.
Grant dollars will be used exclusively to support individuals with transportation needs such as car repairs, new tires, gasoline cards, licensing fees or taxes, transportation services such as bus passes, ride-sharing services, taxis, purchase or repair of bikes/e-bikes, or vehicle purchase down payments.
Individuals cannot apply to the CFO directly, but can work with nonprofit agencies supported by the Let’s Get to Work Fund to receive assistance for transportation-related needs. Businesses can access funds through the Springfield Business Development Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit cfozarks.org/transportation.
To apply for a grant from the Let’s Get to Work Fund, agencies must be within the 14-county area of southwest Missouri where the service areas of the CFO and United Way of the Ozarks overlap: Barry, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Laclede, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright counties. Agencies can begin the application process online. Grants will be made as funds remain available. Donors can help extend this program by donating to the Let’s Get to Work Fund.
